Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has challenged the First Minister on his government’s proposals to remove vascular surgery from Ysbyty Gwynedd. Leanne Wood said that the service at Ysbyty Gwynedd was recognised as one of the best in the world, and warned of the knock-on effects of removing the service from Ysbyty Gwynedd and forcing patients to travel to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd for treatment.

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said:

“I’m disappointed at the refusal of the First Minister to guarantee the future of this service. Ysbyty Gwynedd already has a world class vascular service, and yet the First Minister is apparently content to allow this service to be dismantled.

“Clinicians have raised serious concerns with me about the safety of imposing urban models of health care, such as the hub and spoke model, on rural areas, yet this government is attempting to impose a one-size-fits-all model throughout Wales.

“If Ysbyty Gwynedd loses this service it will affect its ability to recruit and retain a variety of staff, its ability to delivery other services that are interlinked, and even worse would undermine the new medical school in Bangor that Plaid Cymru has worked hard to secure. It will also mean people from Ynys Mon, Pen Llyn and other places travelling far too long for vital surgery.